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By Dr. Edward Perera
(March 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) What are the Tamil grievances from a Tamil Point of view and what could it be for Sinhalese majority in Sri Lanka?
Can these Tamil grievances be attributed to psychological characteristic of their isolation as a separate community living in this country?
Is it a kind of antagonism, which can be interpreted as a genuine desire to feel, share and enjoy the socioeconomic and cultural security and the freedom what other communities are privileged to possess?
Do cultural and religious demarcations determine the communal isolation in Sri Lanka? If this hindrance is pertaining to the historically deep rooted consciousness of ethnicity and this diversity had some functions to the peculiarities of each ethnic group, then what is the logic of putting the blame to another group of people than accepting pros and cons of the prevailing conditions?
It is evident, how and why the Tamil community voluntarily engaged in enjoying everything that came from South India mainly from Tamil Nadu. Whether they are films, books, food items or ethnic sentiments, they were welcomed by the Tamils living in Sri Lanka disregarding their social and regional discrepancies amongst them within one particular territory. No Tamil, whether he comes from North, East or from Plantation sector, was forced by Sinhalese majority only to watch South Indian films or only to eat Dosai and Masala Wadai.
The practices ranging from dietary habits to religious beliefs of Tamils were never ridiculed by the Sinhalese Buddhists. The best logical explanation to this practice of tolerance and non-violence by Sinhalese Buddhists is that the Tamil community survived as a homogenous group in Sri Lanka throughout history. Most interestingly almost every Sinhalese is fond of enjoying Tamil food and many Buddhist worships Hindu Deities in Buddhist temples but it is not reciprocated by Hindus. Buddhists are not concern about the absence of Buddha images in Hindu Kovil. Sinhalese are also not disturbed with the serving of Masala Wadai Dosai in Tamil restaurants all over the country. Tamils were always free to use their language not only in their so-called homeland but in any part of the country.
In Nazi Germany every Jew, no matter the age, gender, physical or mental condition, after being identified was sent to gas chambers. The Catholic Church did not utter a word against this heinous crimes committed by Nazis. It was workable on the condition that the Nazi administration agreed upon allowing the Catholic Church to collect Church Tax, a privilege, which was not granted to other religious denominations in Germany. In the context of Sri Lanka what is the legitimacy of the Church’s cry for the “grievances” of the Tamil people? If the Church or any Western super power was concerned about the general conditions of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, what prevented them from introducing good school systems, health centers etc. to uplift the living conditions of the Tamil plantation workers? The answer is simple. These unsophisticated Tamils did not want them to be converted to Christianity. Almost every Tamil in Plantation sector speaks Sinhalese and they are ardent Hindus. They still live under inferior living conditions setting an illusory example for the Christian Westerners to say that these Tamils deserve to be treated like this as they do not welcome conversion.
The same conditions applied to rural Sinhalese who do live from hand to mouth. The Children of rural peasants learn under Cadjan roofs while the well equipped best English schools were concentrated in Jaffna Peninsula (so-called Tamil Homeland in Sri Lanka) and also in Colombo to absorb the children of the Tamil elites living (60% of the Tamil population) amongst Sinhalese.
When the Yaldevi Train (Jaffna bound train service at that time) was functioning until over 28 Stations were destroyed by Tamil Tiger Terrorists and took the northern part of the railway under their control, the Tamils white-collar commuted who visited their families over the weekends enjoyed a comfortable journey for a nominal cost. It was known to everyone that after Medawachchi station (in North Central Province), Sinhalese passengers compelled to continue the whole journey standing up but they simply accepted this inconvenience without grumbling. (The Yaldevi train was blown up by the LTTE on 20.05.1985). There were reports coming from England, Germany and Switzerland that Tamils youths traveling in trains were attacked by members of the National Front, Neo-Nazi or similar extremist groups. Had any Tamil been attacked while traveling in a public transport by Sinhalese on an ethnic basis?
This is not meant to exclude any crime committed by a Sinhalese against an innocent Tamil. Crime is a crime, no matter who the perpetrator is. But it is very unfortunate that an unseen party sheds crocodile tears for the so-called victims merely to blame the majority Sinhalese. Anyone who wants to share their solidarity with the oppressed should not jump into conclusions to denote that the suffering of one particular group of people living in Sri Lanka should not be attributed to ethnic factor as poverty is a common phenomenon in every country and it is unquestionably global. There are so many homogenous societies, which undergo all kind of oppressions, discriminations and ill treatments due to state corruptions and malpractices prevailing in their respective countries.
I wonder why the Church doesn’t take any interest to stop killing nearly 4000 children annually by Pistoleros in Brazil. Does the Church have effective plans to overcome extreme poverty in Philippine, where the 81% of the total population are predominantly Catholics? By preaching a “doctrine” against the use of condoms, the Church has directly contributed to a soaring population which has resulted in several social problems like starvation, mass unemployment and child prostitution. Would the Church tolerate, if the Philippine Muslims interfere with this “condom issue” encouraging Catholics to control birth? During Pope’s recent visit to Angola, he appealed to the people of African continent to abstain from using condoms disregarding the rapid growth of HIV in Africa. As Papal authority emphasized, can the under privileged people in Africa observe morals in sexuality, when the Church doesn’t care for ethics in conversions or setting one group of people against another group wherever the Church is active in missionary work?
Islam world is not only powerful but also dangerous to the Christian faith globally. The Sinhalese Buddhist community is the smallest denomination when compared to all the other religious forces in the world. The most irritating fact for the Church in Sri Lanka is that Buddhism is not a religion but a deep rooted philosophy, which paved the way to a unique civilization in the world. Due to this very fact, the entire ethnic minority groups including Tamils have the highest recognition to be the essential components of Sri Lankan society. If any minority group is keen on building a new nation, they are not obstructed by the majority to go elsewhere to achieve their objectives where they find the same culture in another territory outside Sri Lanka.
There is only one alternative left for all living in this island. That is the ethnic integration and collective consciousness in a consolidated manner to rebuild the battered nation. Whether the LTTE or the Church would resist this process of ethnic harmony, the nation will find its course to ease the situation soon.-Sri Lanka Guardian
By Dr. Edward Perera
(March 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) What are the Tamil grievances from a Tamil Point of view and what could it be for Sinhalese majority in Sri Lanka?
Can these Tamil grievances be attributed to psychological characteristic of their isolation as a separate community living in this country?
Is it a kind of antagonism, which can be interpreted as a genuine desire to feel, share and enjoy the socioeconomic and cultural security and the freedom what other communities are privileged to possess?
Do cultural and religious demarcations determine the communal isolation in Sri Lanka? If this hindrance is pertaining to the historically deep rooted consciousness of ethnicity and this diversity had some functions to the peculiarities of each ethnic group, then what is the logic of putting the blame to another group of people than accepting pros and cons of the prevailing conditions?
It is evident, how and why the Tamil community voluntarily engaged in enjoying everything that came from South India mainly from Tamil Nadu. Whether they are films, books, food items or ethnic sentiments, they were welcomed by the Tamils living in Sri Lanka disregarding their social and regional discrepancies amongst them within one particular territory. No Tamil, whether he comes from North, East or from Plantation sector, was forced by Sinhalese majority only to watch South Indian films or only to eat Dosai and Masala Wadai.
The practices ranging from dietary habits to religious beliefs of Tamils were never ridiculed by the Sinhalese Buddhists. The best logical explanation to this practice of tolerance and non-violence by Sinhalese Buddhists is that the Tamil community survived as a homogenous group in Sri Lanka throughout history. Most interestingly almost every Sinhalese is fond of enjoying Tamil food and many Buddhist worships Hindu Deities in Buddhist temples but it is not reciprocated by Hindus. Buddhists are not concern about the absence of Buddha images in Hindu Kovil. Sinhalese are also not disturbed with the serving of Masala Wadai Dosai in Tamil restaurants all over the country. Tamils were always free to use their language not only in their so-called homeland but in any part of the country.
In Nazi Germany every Jew, no matter the age, gender, physical or mental condition, after being identified was sent to gas chambers. The Catholic Church did not utter a word against this heinous crimes committed by Nazis. It was workable on the condition that the Nazi administration agreed upon allowing the Catholic Church to collect Church Tax, a privilege, which was not granted to other religious denominations in Germany. In the context of Sri Lanka what is the legitimacy of the Church’s cry for the “grievances” of the Tamil people? If the Church or any Western super power was concerned about the general conditions of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, what prevented them from introducing good school systems, health centers etc. to uplift the living conditions of the Tamil plantation workers? The answer is simple. These unsophisticated Tamils did not want them to be converted to Christianity. Almost every Tamil in Plantation sector speaks Sinhalese and they are ardent Hindus. They still live under inferior living conditions setting an illusory example for the Christian Westerners to say that these Tamils deserve to be treated like this as they do not welcome conversion.
The same conditions applied to rural Sinhalese who do live from hand to mouth. The Children of rural peasants learn under Cadjan roofs while the well equipped best English schools were concentrated in Jaffna Peninsula (so-called Tamil Homeland in Sri Lanka) and also in Colombo to absorb the children of the Tamil elites living (60% of the Tamil population) amongst Sinhalese.
When the Yaldevi Train (Jaffna bound train service at that time) was functioning until over 28 Stations were destroyed by Tamil Tiger Terrorists and took the northern part of the railway under their control, the Tamils white-collar commuted who visited their families over the weekends enjoyed a comfortable journey for a nominal cost. It was known to everyone that after Medawachchi station (in North Central Province), Sinhalese passengers compelled to continue the whole journey standing up but they simply accepted this inconvenience without grumbling. (The Yaldevi train was blown up by the LTTE on 20.05.1985). There were reports coming from England, Germany and Switzerland that Tamils youths traveling in trains were attacked by members of the National Front, Neo-Nazi or similar extremist groups. Had any Tamil been attacked while traveling in a public transport by Sinhalese on an ethnic basis?
This is not meant to exclude any crime committed by a Sinhalese against an innocent Tamil. Crime is a crime, no matter who the perpetrator is. But it is very unfortunate that an unseen party sheds crocodile tears for the so-called victims merely to blame the majority Sinhalese. Anyone who wants to share their solidarity with the oppressed should not jump into conclusions to denote that the suffering of one particular group of people living in Sri Lanka should not be attributed to ethnic factor as poverty is a common phenomenon in every country and it is unquestionably global. There are so many homogenous societies, which undergo all kind of oppressions, discriminations and ill treatments due to state corruptions and malpractices prevailing in their respective countries.
I wonder why the Church doesn’t take any interest to stop killing nearly 4000 children annually by Pistoleros in Brazil. Does the Church have effective plans to overcome extreme poverty in Philippine, where the 81% of the total population are predominantly Catholics? By preaching a “doctrine” against the use of condoms, the Church has directly contributed to a soaring population which has resulted in several social problems like starvation, mass unemployment and child prostitution. Would the Church tolerate, if the Philippine Muslims interfere with this “condom issue” encouraging Catholics to control birth? During Pope’s recent visit to Angola, he appealed to the people of African continent to abstain from using condoms disregarding the rapid growth of HIV in Africa. As Papal authority emphasized, can the under privileged people in Africa observe morals in sexuality, when the Church doesn’t care for ethics in conversions or setting one group of people against another group wherever the Church is active in missionary work?
Islam world is not only powerful but also dangerous to the Christian faith globally. The Sinhalese Buddhist community is the smallest denomination when compared to all the other religious forces in the world. The most irritating fact for the Church in Sri Lanka is that Buddhism is not a religion but a deep rooted philosophy, which paved the way to a unique civilization in the world. Due to this very fact, the entire ethnic minority groups including Tamils have the highest recognition to be the essential components of Sri Lankan society. If any minority group is keen on building a new nation, they are not obstructed by the majority to go elsewhere to achieve their objectives where they find the same culture in another territory outside Sri Lanka.
There is only one alternative left for all living in this island. That is the ethnic integration and collective consciousness in a consolidated manner to rebuild the battered nation. Whether the LTTE or the Church would resist this process of ethnic harmony, the nation will find its course to ease the situation soon.-Sri Lanka Guardian
I am really disappointed to see this article misinforming the reader. Actually this would be loved by an extremist Sinhala Buddhist but not all. I am Sinhala myself. By using the term 'Sinhala Buddhist' over the years many have combined being Sinhala to being a Buddhist, which is not the same thing. For an intellectual the problem is self evident in this article. The idea that nationalism is equal to one's religion is the root of Sri Lankan problem. This is so unfortunate. I have the utmost respect for Buddhism and I respect any Sinhalese who is a Buddhist. I don't see any difference in LTTE saying that they are the sole representatives of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and Buddhists referring to all Sinhalese as Buddhists. Both statements are false. As long as Buddhism in Sri Lanka fails to go beyond Sinhalism it will remain firmly rooted in Sri Lanka. There is no wonder why there are handful or no Tamils who are Buddhists. (I think the reverse is the same with Tamils not being Buddhists.)
Also regarding the accusation regarding the Catholic Church is also interesting. I think the writer is badly misinformed in presuming the Catholic Church had no interest in Education in the up country as it has in the other parts. There were many private schools that belonged to the Catholic schools rendering valuable education to the Tamil populations (Tamils I use, not Indian Tamils, as if they are half Tamils)before the government took over the schools or smothered the financial self sufficiency of these schools which resulted in giving these schools over the government. But there is still St. Patrick's school in Thalawakele redering education to Tamil children. There are other Catholic school convents still operating in the up country. So be sure of the facts before reporting on public papers.
About the ethnic situation in the Country the problem lies not with the general public but with the leaders of both ethnicity. The Sinhala leaders must give respect and provision to be at peace with the Tamil culture, which includes Tamil language, food, clothes, work, etc. It is absurd to talk about Tamils living in Colombo with the Sinhala population if Tamils can't get a government work done in Tamil in the North and the East. The war against LTTE is really necessary and a political solution to the Tamil problem is more necessary. But with the type of Sinhala Buddhist nationalism this article promulgates that is far from achieved.
The writer claims that Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is somewhat responsible for the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. This is a very unfair assessment. In reality the main responsibility for this situation should be on Buddhist leaders. There are hardly any Buddhist priests who can preach in Tamil. If Buddhist priests have learnt Tamil and tried to integrate with Tamils there would have been lesser misunderstandings with Sinhalese and Tamils. If it has happened there would be more Tamil Buddhists in North and East now. During 1983 Riots Buddhist priests should have come forward to protect Tamils. Buddhist Temples should have been the refugee camps for riot victims. If this has happened it would have given a real meaning to Buddhism in Sri Lanka. But unfortunately it is the Buddhist Priest who is in the forefront today against any power sharing deals with Tamils.
Buddhist Leaders have more responsibility than the Church to bring peace to Sri Lanka. They should not engage in narrow communal politics. They should fight for the rights of the minorities as well. That is the real spirit of Buddhism.
Mahen
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